Crutch



June 2, 1925.

F'. X. LENGS CRUTCH Filed June 11, 1923 .SZVENTOR fi, cua/LLM TTXS.

Patented June 2, 19.2",

FRANCIS X. LENGS, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

sauren. l

Application fue@ June 11, 1923. serial No.. 644,635.

Vexact description, reference being had to Jthe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to crutches and more particularly to that type of crutch having a yieldable arm piece or saddle.

One of the objects of this invent-ion is the provision of an attachment which may be readily secured to the arm piece without necessitating the removal of the arm piece from the staff. In, this connectiomhmy invention contemplates thelprovisionv of an attachment which is quite simple in construction, and which permits vertical movement relatively to the staff and at the same time enables the shoulder of the user to rock and tilt on the yieldable support, so as to give a maximum degree of com-fort.

The means for carrying out my invention will hereinafter be fully set forth in the following description which pertains to the accompanying drawings. rlhe essential features of my invention will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a crutch having my invention attached there# to; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through a portion of the crutch adjacent the upper end thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view of my invention with the padded shoulder piece removed, and Fig. 4; is a sectional view on an enlarged scale similar to that shown in Fig. 2.

In the crutch shown in the drawings, the standard comprises a lower part or staff and a bifurcated upper portion 11, between which at the proper elevation is disposed the usual hand grip 12. Adjacent the top of the upright is an arm piece or saddle 13 which in the usual embodiment has a curved upper surface 14;, which is engaged by the arm pit or shoulder of the user.

My invention, as heretofore stated, comprises an attachment which may loe connected to the arm piece and which may provide a yieldable support or rest for the user. In the preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises a bridge member which is rigidly connected to the arm piece, and is adapted to position the yieldable means.

The bridge member preferably comprises a'stamping, having integral sides 16 and connecting portions 17. VEach of the connecting portions have the outer ends in en`` gagement with the surface 14 of the arm piece, and have inwardly extending arms 17, the inner ends of which are spacedfrom each other and are each provided with `al slot 18, as shown in Fig. 3. ,These arms are independently movable and serve to. position the spring and to support a shoulder pad.

`The yielding support is attained by the use of' a spring 20,'which comprises a leaf spring having the ends, as at 21, curved up.-v wardly to provide a sliding engagement with the surface 14; of the arm piece, and hav? ing the intermediate portion, as at 22, curved oppositely to the end portions, whereby the spring may be passed through the slots 18 and positioned by the arms 17. A pad 25 may be disposed above the bridge member and firmly attached thereto. i

lWhen the users weight'is. directed verti-v cally upon the pad',` the ends of thespring slide equally and outwardly. Vhen the weight of the user is directed either forwardly or baclrwardly, however, then one end of the spring is moved a greater diss tance than the opposite end, and one of the arms 17 is depressed to a greater extent than the opposing arm. Thus the attachment provides a resilient support which counteracts vertical stresses as well as lateral'stresses placed upon the arm piece by the user. f'

An advantage of a device constructed in ac-y cordance with my invention is the adaptability for attachment to existing crutches, and the comfort afforded to the user.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In adevice of the character described,l

the combination with the arm piece of a crutch, of a member rigidly connected with the arm piece and having a portion thereofA lil@ 3. In a device of the character described, the combination with the arm piece of a crutch, of a member rigidly attached to the crutch, and having a yieldable portion extending toward the center of the arm piece, and a spring carried by the yieldable portion and slidably engaging the arm piece.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with an arm piece of a crutch having a concave upper surface, of a bridge member carried by the arm piece and having a pair of inwardly extending arms projecting across the concave portion yof the arm piece, a spring operatively connected to both of said inwardly extending arms, and engaging the upper surface of said arm piece.

5; In a device of the class described, the combination with the arm piece of a crutch, of independently movable members, each having one end thereof attached to the arm piece, and a spring carried by the free ends of said members, said spring slidably engaging said arm piece.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the arm piece of a crutch, 'of a member rigidlyvattached to said arm piece, a spring carried intermediately by said member and having the ends thereof slidably engaging said arm piece.

-7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bowed arm piece, of a member rigidly attached to said arm piece,

said member having a pair of opposed arms projecting inwardly and terminating short of each other, said arms having slots adjacent the innerends thereof, and a spring threaded through said slots.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with the arm piece of a crutch of a bridge member having a portion thereof engaging the side of said arm piece, and having other portions engaging the top of the arm piece, extension pieces projecting inwardly from the'top engaging portion and having the opposed ends thereof spaced from each other, la spring operatively connected to said extension pieces and slidably engaging said arm piece.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with the arm piece of a crutch, of a bridge member having portions thereof engaging the sides of the arm-piece, and having intermediate portions engaging the top of the arm piece, a pair of inwardly extending arms integral with the bridge member, said arms having the opposed ends thereof spaced from each other, and each having a slot therein, a leaf spring having the ends thereof slida-bly engaging the arm piece, and having' the intermediate portion extending through said slots, and a pad carried by said arms.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature.

FRANCIS X. LENGS. 

